With his team struggling to a 3-6 record, Towson football coach Gordy Combs was in need of a vote of confidence from athletic director Mike Hermann.
Combs got that support on Thursday afternoon when he signed a contract extension through 2010. His current deal was set to expire after next season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In 16 years as head coach of the Tigers, Combs has led his team to a record of 89-79 and trails only Phil Albert and his 117 victories as the school?s all-time winningest coach.
“It?s important with the season ending and also the fact that we are going to go into the recruiting phase of the year,” Combs said. “It?s also reassuring for the existing guys in our program, who are redshirt freshmen, that I will be here for their duration.”
Combs, a native of the Baltimore area, attended Calvert Hall High School before earning his degree at Towson, where he played linebacker. After graduation, Combs joined Albert?s staff as an assistant coach in 1972. For 19 years he served in that role, including as defensive coordinator from 1983 to 1991. When Albert stepped down in 1992, Combs was promoted to head coach.
“Gordy has shown great loyalty to Towson,” Hermann said in a statement. “During my short time in Baltimore, I?ve been impressed with how well respected he is within the community. He is a man of terrific character as well as an outstanding football coach.”
The legacy Combs is building at Towson is one of stability through change. He led the team through its dropping of athletic scholarships ? and then reinstating them in 2004. Since Combs took over as coach, Towson has played in the ECIAC Intercollegiate Football Conference, the Patriot League, the Atlantic-10 Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association.
And despite failing to live up to a preseason ranking in a Football Championship Subdivision Top-25 poll, Combs is looking forward to finishing the season strong. Towson hosts Villanova (3-6) Saturday at noon on Senior Day at Johnny Unitas Stadium before finishing the year at James Madison (6-3) on Nov. 17.
“There?s no doubt who is at the helm at now,” Combs said. “Hopefully, we will continue this process as we move forward and continue to progress and win more games in the CAA.”
